Why Take the SAT?
Most colleges—including those that are test optional—still accept SAT test scores. Together with high school grades, the SAT can show your potential to succeed in college or career.
Stand Out on College Applications
What Is a Test-Optional College?
Learn more about how colleges have introduced more flexibility and choice in their admissions process.
Here's Why the SAT May Be Your Best Test
More students (1.9 million in the class of 2023) take the SAT than any other admissions exam. If you're deciding between the SAT and the ACT®, see how they compare.
SAT vs. ACT
| SAT | ACT* | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Digital everywhere | Paper in most places; limited availability of digital |
| Testing time | 2 hours and 14 minutes | 2 hours and 55 minutes |
| Time per question | 1 minute and 22 seconds | 49 seconds |
| Official practice and prep | Free in partnership with Khan Academy® | $124 in partnership with Kaplan |
| Device | Bring the device you're most familiar with—your own laptop, tablet, or school-issued Chromebook | Where digital ACT is available, take it on the device assigned to you at the test center, which might be a Windows desktop or laptop or Chromebook. |
| Built-in Desmos graphing calculator | Yes | No |
| Widely accepted at U.S. colleges | Yes | Yes |
| Fee waivers for eligible students | Yes | Yes |
| Connects to college and career planning tools | Yes | Yes |
| Connects to scholarships | Yes | Yes |
| *Based on publicly released ACT information. | ||
What's Different About the Digital SAT
The digital SAT is easier to take:
When Should You Take the SAT?
Most students take the SAT for the first time in the spring of junior year and again in the fall before college application deadlines.
Plan for Life After High School
With BigFuture, you can go deeper into planning for life after high school. Explore careers, plan for college, and pay for college. You'll also find free actionable tools that are easy to navigate, and personalized pathways that make planning relevant.
Endorsed, Free Official SAT Prep
The best way to practice for the SAT is free and personalized to you. The first step is to set your own target score.